Minimum

The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER pairing in Minimum demonstrates a clear GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions, while still delivering high frame rates at 1080p. The benchmark data shows this combo ranks 1057th out of 1733 tested configurations, placing it in the 61st percentile overall—a solid mid-pack result for a 2019-era GPU paired with a modern 2022 CPU.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X brings substantial processing headroom to this pairing. With 8 cores and 16 threads, the Zen 4 architecture runs at a base clock of 4.50 GHz and boosts to 5.40 GHz. This is a 7000-series desktop chip on the AM5 socket, built on a 5 nm process with 32 MB of shared L3 cache. Its multi-threaded capabilities are strong: Cinebench R23 multi-core scores 30325, while single-core hits 4281. In the 3DMark suite, the CPU scores 8859 with 16 threads and 1090 single-threaded.

The CPU's percentile versus all CPUs is 89, meaning it outperforms nearly nine out of ten processors in the database. Its average benchmark score of 34313 places it extremely close to its nearest rivals: the Intel Core i5-13500 scores 34175 (just 0.4% behind), the Intel Core i7-12800HX scores 34136 (0.5% behind), and the AMD EPYC 4244P scores 34599 (0.8% ahead). The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H also sits 0.8% ahead at 34584. This clustering indicates the 7700X is competitively positioned among high-end desktop and mobile chips.

In Minimum, a third-person shooter from 2014, the CPU's role is largely about feeding the GPU efficiently. At 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves 186.4 FPS, which suggests the CPU is not limiting at lower graphical loads. The 16 threads handle the game's engine workload without breaking a sweat, and the high boost clock of 5.40 GHz ensures responsive single-threaded performance, which is often critical for game logic and frame pacing. The data indicates the CPU is never the bottleneck in this configuration; even at 4K Ultra, where the GPU drops to 34.5 FPS, the CPU still has ample headroom.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER is the definitive performance limiter in this combo. This Turing-architecture card features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Its base clock runs at 1605 MHz, boosting to 1770 MHz, with memory clocked at 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective). The GPU contains 2560 shading units, 160 TMUs, and 64 ROPs, along with 40 RT cores and 320 tensor cores for ray tracing and AI workloads.

The GPU's percentile versus all GPUs is 65, and its average benchmark score of 22206 places it near interesting rivals. The NVIDIA RTX A400 scores 22307 (just 0.5% higher), the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN Z scores 22006 (0.9% lower), and the AMD Radeon RX 5700 scores 21670 (2.5% lower). The RTX 4060 Mobile scores 22729, which is 2.3% higher. This positions the 2070 SUPER as a competent mid-range card that trades blows with both professional and older flagship parts.

In Minimum, the GPU's 8 GB VRAM is sufficient for all tested settings, even at 4K Ultra. The frame rate drops from 186.4 FPS at 1080p Low to 34.5 FPS at 4K Ultra, a reduction that clearly points to the GPU as the limiting component. The card's 9.062 TFLOPS of FP32 compute is adequate for a 2014 title, but the demands of 4K resolution combined with Ultra settings overwhelm it. The 12 nm process node and 215 W TDP indicate this is a power-hungry but capable card for its generation.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The resolution scaling data reveals a classic GPU-bound pattern. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 186.4 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops this to 120.6 FPS, a 35% reduction. At 4K Low, the frame rate falls to 63.7 FPS, which is 66% lower than 1080p. This steep decline with increasing pixel count is the hallmark of a graphics card that cannot keep up with the rendering demands at higher resolutions.

The settings scaling at each resolution reinforces this conclusion. At 1080p, the gap between Low (186.4 FPS) and Ultra (92.1 FPS) is 94.3 FPS, showing that the GPU struggles with higher-quality effects even at the lowest resolution. At 4K, the gap between Low (63.7 FPS) and Ultra (34.5 FPS) narrows to 29.2 FPS in absolute terms, but the relative drop is similar. The CPU's ability to deliver 186.4 FPS at 1080p Low proves it is not the bottleneck; the GPU's rendering pipeline is the ceiling.

The data also shows diminishing returns from Medium to Ultra settings. At 1440p, Medium delivers 94.2 FPS while High drops to 79.7 FPS and Ultra to 57.9 FPS. This suggests that the jump from Medium to High is less punishing than the jump from High to Ultra, which is typical for games where Ultra applies expensive post-processing and shadow effects. For a smooth experience, the measured FPS values indicate that 1440p Medium or 1080p High are the sweet spots for this hardware combination.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and refresh rate. At 1080p, High settings deliver 121.9 FPS, which is ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors. Medium settings at 1080p yield 141.9 FPS, offering a slight boost for competitive play, while Ultra drops to 92.1 FPS—still playable but with diminishing returns on visual fidelity. Low settings at 1080p push 186.4 FPS, but this sacrifices too much visual quality for a marginal gain over High.

At 1440p, High settings produce 79.7 FPS, which is smooth for most displays. Medium settings raise this to 94.2 FPS, providing a better balance of visual quality and performance. Ultra at 1440p falls to 57.9 FPS, which is borderline for a third-person shooter where fluidity matters. Low at 1440p hits 120.6 FPS, making it the choice for players who prioritize frame rate over everything else. The data suggests 1440p Medium is the recommended preset for this resolution.

At 4K, only Low settings (63.7 FPS) achieve a playable frame rate. Medium drops to 53 FPS, High to 42.3 FPS, and Ultra to 34.5 FPS, all of which are below the 60 FPS threshold that most players consider smooth. The recommendation for 4K is to use Low settings if the target is 60 FPS, or to accept lower frame rates with higher presets. Given the game's age, the visual difference between Low and Medium at 4K may be less noticeable than the frame rate impact.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combo rank of 1057 out of 1733 tested configurations places this pairing in the lower-middle tier of the database. With a rank of 1057, it sits above 676 other combos but below 1056, meaning roughly 39% of tested systems perform worse. This is a respectable position for a GPU that launched in 2019, but it shows that newer hardware combinations dominate the upper ranks.

The CPU's high percentile (89) does not translate into a high combo rank because the GPU's percentile (65) drags the overall performance down. This asymmetry is a key insight: the Ryzen 7 7700X is a top-tier processor, but the RTX 2070 SUPER is mid-range, and the combo's rank reflects the weaker link. The nearest GPU rivals—the RTX A400, GTX TITAN Z, and RX 5700—all produce comparable average scores, confirming that the 2070 SUPER is the performance ceiling here.

The data suggests that upgrading the GPU would yield significant gains, as the CPU has ample headroom. However, the combo's rank of 1057 is not a poor result; it indicates a balanced system for 1080p and 1440p gaming, with playable 4K only at low settings. For a game like Minimum, which is not graphically demanding by modern standards, this pairing handles the title comfortably at most settings and resolutions.

FAQ

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X or the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER the bottleneck in this game?

A: The benchmark data clearly shows the GPU is the limiting factor. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 186.4 FPS, but this drops to 63.7 FPS at 4K Low, indicating that the RTX 2070 SUPER cannot keep up with higher pixel counts. The CPU's high percentile (89) and strong multi-threaded scores suggest it has ample headroom.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1440p gaming with this combo?

A: The measured FPS values indicate that Medium settings at 1440p (94.2 FPS) offer the best balance of visual quality and smoothness. High settings at 79.7 FPS are also playable, but Ultra drops to 57.9 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold many players prefer.

*Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming in Minimum?*

A: Only at Low settings (63.7 FPS) does the combo achieve a smooth 4K experience. Medium (53 FPS), High (42.3 FPS), and Ultra (34.5 FPS) all fall below 60 FPS, making them less ideal for a third-person shooter where responsive gameplay is important.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested systems?

A: It ranks 1057th out of 1733 tested combos, placing it in the lower-middle tier. This position is driven by the GPU's mid-range performance, as the CPU's percentile of 89 is much higher than the GPU's percentile of 65.

Q: What are the closest GPU rivals to the RTX 2070 SUPER in this database?

A: The NVIDIA RTX A400 scores 22307 (0.5% higher), the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN Z scores 22006 (0.9% lower), and the AMD Radeon RX 5700 scores 21670 (2.5% lower). The RTX 4060 Mobile scores 22729, which is 2.3% higher.

Q: Is the CPU's performance in this combo typical for its class?

A: Yes, the Ryzen 7 7700X scores 34313 on average, with nearest rivals within 0.8%: the Intel Core i5-13500 (34175, 0.4% behind) and the AMD EPYC 4244P (34599, 0.8% ahead). This confirms the CPU is performing as expected.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers the following average frame rates: Low settings achieve 186.4 FPS, Medium settings reach 141.9 FPS, High settings produce 121.9 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 92.1 FPS. These numbers show a clear progression where each settings tier reduces performance, with the gap between Low and Ultra being 94.3 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates are: Low at 120.6 FPS, Medium at 94.2 FPS, High at 79.7 FPS, and Ultra at 57.9 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p at each settings level is consistent—roughly 35%—which reinforces the GPU-bound nature of the system.

At 3840x2160, the performance falls further: Low at 63.7 FPS, Medium at 53 FPS, High at 42.3 FPS, and Ultra at 34.5 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is 29.2 FPS, which is smaller in absolute terms than at 1080p but still significant. The data shows that 4K Ultra is only 34.5 FPS, making it the most demanding configuration tested.